Italian Donuts

Total Time: 12 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 2 mins

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil, for frying
• 1 1/2 cups olive oil, for frying
• 1 lb prepared pizza dough
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Recipe

• 1 pour equal parts of vegetable oil and olive oil into a large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches. heat the oil over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375 degrees f.
• 2 roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/2-inch thickness. using a floured 2-inch cookie cutter, cut out doughnut rounds. using a floured 1-inch cookie cutter, cut out a hole in the center of each doughnut. gather the dough scraps and re-roll to cut out more doughnuts.
• 3 whisk the sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl to blend. set the cinnamon-sugar aside.
• 4 when the oil is hot, working in batches, fry the doughnuts until they puff but are still pale, about 45 seconds per side. using a slotted spoon, transfer the doughnuts to paper towels to drain. cool slightly. while the doughnuts are still warm, add to the bowl with cinnamon-sugar and generously coat each 2 times with the cinnamon-sugar. serve warm.
• 5 alternately, cool the fried doughnuts to room temperature. stir 3 ounces milk chocolate and 1/4 cup whipping cream in a heavy small saucepan over medium-low heat until the chocolate melts. set aside until the chocolate sauce comes to room temperature but does not set. dip 1 side of each doughnut into the chocolate mixture. sprinkle with finely chopped toasted almonds or crushed espresso beans and set aside until the chocolate is set.